Carolina Panthers vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2014 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-11-30, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 31–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with -7.05 total EPA, and -11.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, G. Jennings (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.03 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-8.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (7:09) (Punt formation) 8-B.Nortman punt is BLOCKED by 19-A.Thielen, Center-44-J.Jansen, RECOVERED by MIN-19-A.Thielen at CAR 30. 19-A.Thielen for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 G. Jennings · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +5.03 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Stewart · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +3.94 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +3.74 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Bridgewater · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +3.56 total EPA · 25 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Wright · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.53 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.76 EPA/play
6. 6 Ch. Johnson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.19 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Brown · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.59 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Stewart · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.08 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Minnesota Vikings — K. Rudolph (T. Bridgewater pass) (Q1 54:46)
• Minnesota Vikings — A. Thielen (Q1 52:09)
• Minnesota Vikings — E. Griffen (Q2 39:45)
• Minnesota Vikings — G. Jennings (T. Bridgewater pass) (Q2 30:23)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Brown (C. Newton pass) (Q3 24:21)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q1 45:41)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q2 33:33)
• Minnesota Vikings — B. Walsh (Q4 9:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 14–3. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the CAR 4 (Q1 54:46) — (9:46) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short right to 82-K.Rudolph for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 54:41) — (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the MIN 57 (Q1 52:09); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 52:00) — (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the MIN 12 (Q1 45:41) — (:41) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 14–3. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the MIN 50 (Q2 39:45); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q2 39:35) — (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the MIN 17 (Q2 33:33) — (3:33) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the CAR 17 (Q2 30:23) — (:23) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short left to 15-G.Jennings for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q2 30:16) — (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the MIN 32 (Q3 24:21) — (9:21) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle to 16-C.Brown for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 24:15) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 3–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CAR 21 (Q4 9:00) — (9:00) (Field Goal formation) 3-B.Walsh 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 52:09) — (7:09) (Punt formation) 8-B.Nortman punt is BLOCKED by 19-A.Thielen, Center-44-J.Jansen, RECOVERED by MIN-19-A.Thielen at CAR 30. 19-A.Thielen for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -6.13]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 56:29) — (11:29) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short left to 15-G.Jennings to CAR 33 for 7 yards (20-A.Cason). [WPA +4.8% · EPA +1.38]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 39:45) — (9:45) (Punt formation) 8-B.Nortman punt is BLOCKED by 54-J.Brinkley, Center-44-J.Jansen, RECOVERED by MIN-97-E.Griffen at CAR 43. 97-E.Griffen for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -4.7% · EPA -6.77]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 58:37) — (13:37) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton sacked at CAR 17 for -5 yards (73-S.Floyd). [WPA -4.7% · EPA -1.73]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 24:21) — (9:21) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle to 16-C.Brown for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +4.6% · EPA +5.39]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Carolina Panthers (Q2 39:45) — (9:45) (Punt formation) 8-B.Nortman punt is BLOCKED by 54-J.Brinkley, Center-44-J.Jansen, RECOVERED by MIN-97-E.Griffen at CAR 43. 97-E.Griffen for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -4.7% · EPA -6.77]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 52:09) — (7:09) (Punt formation) 8-B.Nortman punt is BLOCKED by 19-A.Thielen, Center-44-J.Jansen, RECOVERED by MIN-19-A.Thielen at CAR 30. 19-A.Thielen for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -6.13]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 24:21) — (9:21) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle to 16-C.Brown for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +4.6% · EPA +5.39]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 2:29) — (2:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep right intended for 10-D.Presley INTERCEPTED by 21-J.Robinson at MIN 20. 21-J.Robinson pushed ob at MIN 43 for 23 yards (67-R.Kalil). [WPA -0.1% · EPA -4.71]

Quarterback report card

C.Newton led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 43 dropbacks · 41.9% completion · -11.8% CPOE · -0.16 EPA/play · -7.05 total EPA
• T.Bridgewater (Minnesota Vikings) · 25 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +5.0% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +3.56 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Minnesota Vikings held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.03 vs -0.20), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, -18.25 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, -1.78 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• G. Jennings (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Newton (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• T. Bridgewater (MIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 54:46 · CAR 4 · Score 0-6
   (9:46) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short right to 82-K.Rudolph for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 54:41 · CAR 2 · Score 0-7
   (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.
3. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 52:09 · MIN 57 · Score 0-13
   (7:09) (Punt formation) 8-B.Nortman punt is BLOCKED by 19-A.Thielen, Center-44-J.Jansen, RECOVERED by MIN-19-A.Thielen at CAR 30. 19-A.Thielen for 30 yards, TOU
4. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 52:00 · CAR 2 · Score 0-14
   (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.
5. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q1 45:41 · MIN 12 · Score 3-14
   (:41) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
6. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 39:45 · MIN 50 · Score 3-20
   (9:45) (Punt formation) 8-B.Nortman punt is BLOCKED by 54-J.Brinkley, Center-44-J.Jansen, RECOVERED by MIN-97-E.Griffen at CAR 43. 97-E.Griffen for 43 yards, TO
7. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 39:35 · CAR 2 · Score 3-21
   (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.
8. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 33:33 · MIN 17 · Score 6-21
   (3:33) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
9. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 30:23 · CAR 17 · Score 6-27
   (:23) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short left to 15-G.Jennings for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 30:16 · CAR 2 · Score 6-28
    (Kick formation) 3-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.
11. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 24:21 · MIN 32 · Score 12-28
    (9:21) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle to 16-C.Brown for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 24:15 · MIN 2 · Score 13-28
    9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
13. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 9:00 · CAR 21 · Score 13-31
    (9:00) (Field Goal formation) 3-B.Walsh 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-18-J.Locke.